Every party or every celebration is best enjoyed only with lip-smacking food. Guests enjoy this food only when it is served tastily and hygienically.
No one wants to use plastic plates these days as they are chemically processed and can cause lethal diseases like cancer.
The best way to serve food hygienically is by using bamboo or palm leaf plates. What makes them similar or different? Which is more sustainable? Let us analyse.
Bamboo plates and palm leaf plates- the similarity
Both bamboo plates and palm plates are eco-friendly plates made from natural plant material. They are the ideal alternative to paper plates. Both are made from biodegradable products that can carry both hot foods and cold foods without bending or breaking. They are disposable plates that cause no harm to the environment as they can be easily composted.
Bamboo plates Vs. Palm Leaf plates- which is more sustainable?
The product-100% natural look
One look at the product description and you will easily know which is more sustainable for you.
Palm leaf plates come in a natural wood grain finish. Those spiral grains in varying shades arise because these plates are hand-pressed. This gives these biodegradable wood plates a rich and rustic look to match your outdoor events. On the other hand, bamboo plates look more synthetic and artificial as they are factory processed.
So, if you want to showcase your corporate social responsibility at formal events, you can use the natural-looking biodegradable palm leaf plate.
The process- 100% eco-friendly
Coming to the manufacturing process, Areca palm plates score again. This Is because there is no felling of trees or deforestation involved in the production of palm leaf plates. Yes, Areca palm leaves that fall to the ground are collected by workers, washed with turmeric water, and dried in the sun. Then, they are compressed by hand into sheaths using heat molds. There are absolutely no harmful chemicals used in this process for binding or setting. So, this palm product is wholly organic. It breaks down by itself on disposal and integrates into the soil. Since no waste is left behind, palm leaves are totally eco-friendly and sustainable.
On the other hand, fully-grown bamboo trees are cut down to make disposable bamboo plates. These bamboo trees grow up to a height of 60 ft in Asia, Africa, etc. They are vital as food and shelter to the animals and to the ecosystem. Since bamboo manufacturIng involves the felling of trees, it is not considered a sustainable material.
Green and safe for the environment
Areca Palm leaf plates are more eco-friendly as both the product and the process of manufacturing do not harm the environment.
When it comes to bamboo plate production, the process is harmful to the environment. Not only this, it involves the felling of the bamboo trees which are actually essential to the environment. Each bamboo plant absorbs 35% of the carbon dioxide, reducing air pollution. The felling of bamboo trees to make bamboo dinnerware is only a loss to the ecosystem.
Biodegradable
The main factor that makes palm leaf tableware the best biodegradable plate option is its easy biodegradability. Areca plates break down within a few weeks, while a bamboo plate takes nearly 8 months to decompose.
Use of harmful chemicals
During bamboo plate manufacturing, a chemical called melamine is used for binding. This chemical resin contains both formaldehyde and melatonin, both of which can cause cancer. Secondly, this resin enters the food when the bamboo plate is microwaved with food, causing kidney and urinary problems. This is why bamboo pulp plates are not considered safe and banned by certain countries.
In contrast, natural palm-leaf plates have no such health hazards s no chemicals are used.
Strength and durability
Both palm and bamboo plates are lightweight and can hold greasy foods. But, bamboo plates are not ideal for serving hot foods as they get deformed when microwaved. Palm leaf dinnerware is microwave safe and can withstand boiling hot foods without any chance to their original condition. That is why palm leaf disposable plates are much preferred for catering events.
Cost
Palm leaf tableware and disposable palm plates are attractive, aesthetic, and affordable. They cost very little due to the ease of production. On the other hand, the complexity of the bamboo plate production process makes it costlier than areca palm leaf products. Secondly, every batch of bamboo plates has fewer numbers, which does not make it viable for bulk use at catering events.
When it comes to style, value, and sustainability, beautiful palm leaf plates emerge on top as the winner. These all-natural, no-chemical, attractive products make great biodegradable tableware and are definitely the more sustainable alternative in every way.
